Shoe-cleaner



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BOARD, OF RIPLEY, VIRGINIA.

SHOE-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 29,759, dated August 28, 1860.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS BOARD, oit' Ripley, in the county of Jackson and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved SlioeCleaner; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andeXact description of the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l, represents a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 2, is a horizontal section of the same taken in the plane indicated by the line ai Fig. l. Figs. 3, and 4, represent similar views of a modification.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures, indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in arranging a rising and falling slide in combination with two spring side jaws in a suitable frame fastened to the doorstep or to-any other convenient place, in such a manner that if a boot or shoe is placed between the spring jaws, and the vertical slide is depressed on the instep and the foot is now drawn backward, the mud adhering to the boot or shoe is cleaned off on the top as well as on the soles, and sides. To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation with reference to the drawing.

The frame A, is firmly secured to the door step or to any convenient place outside the house. Said frame forming the guide for two spring aws B, B, which may be made to slide backward and forward, subjected to the action of the spiral springs a., a, as shown in Figs. l, and 2, or which may be hinged to the frame so as to open backward and subjected to the flatsprings I), b, as represented in Figs. 3, and 4. This last named construction I prefer if the jaws are intended to scrape o the dirt, but if the jaws are to be furnished with bristles to form brushes for the final cleaning of the boot or shoe, I prefer to construct them as shown in Figs. I, and 2.

The upper part of the boot is cleaned off by means of a vertical slide O, which is guided by the uprights D, D, and which is raised or depressed by means of the handle E. The uprights D, D, are secured in the side of the frame A, and their tops are united by a crossbar F, which forms the guide for the handle E. This rising-andfalling slide, is the distinguishing feature of my invention, and it may be constructed with bristles at its under side as shown in Figs. l and 2, or with a. sharp curved edge as represented in Figs. 3, and 4. In the latter case this slide is intended to scrape olf the mud which may have adhered to the top of the boot or shoe and if provided with bristles, said slide is intended to give to the boot or shoe the final cleaning on the upper part. Both these devices may be used in conjunction and in this case the heel of the boot or shoe is first inserted between the sharp edged side jaws A, A, represented in Figs. 3 and 4, the slide C, is depressed on the instep andy the boot or shoe is drawn back. By these means the mud adhering to the sides and to the top of the boot or shoe is scraped oft' and the sole is cleaned at the same time, by giving to the top edge of that part of the frame A, between the jaws the form of an ordinary shoe iron. After this operation has been finished the boot or shoe is inserted between the brushes represented in Figs. 1 and 2, and it is finally cleaned.

The convenience of this device is obvious; the side-jaws adapt themselves to shoes or boots of Various sizes and the vertical slide can be raised or depressed to suit the size of the boot or shoe to be cleaned. It can be made cheap and it cannot easily get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, what I cla-im as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement of the rising and falling slide O, in combination with the side jaws B, B, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

THOS. BOARD.

IVitnesses F. IV. SMITH, I. L. PnoGLnn. 

